Even after an expected comeback led by rookie quarterback Jordan Love, the Green Bay Packers still look strong in the playoffs.
Love rushed for 3,587 yards with 27 TDs and 11 interceptions in Aaron Rodgers’ first season as a starter this year (Rogers had 4,038 yards, 28 TDs and 13 INTs in 2008).
Coming off a 31-30 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 16, the Packers have a 25 percent chance to make the playoffs.Green Bay fans will be optimistic after another strong performance from Jordan Love, but the defense’s poor afternoon will be a major concern going forward.
Fans have been calling for the team to replace defensive coordinator Joe Barry for most of the season, and the defense’s strong run against Carolina could be the final straw.The Packers have given up 394 yards and 30 points to the Panthers entering Week 16. They rank third in the NFL in total yards and points per game. Both hit season highs. In the last two games, Carolina scored nine points against the Atlanta Falcons and six against the New Orleans Saints. The Packers also made struggling Panthers QB Bryce Young look like a true Pro Bowler. Young threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns. Not only did Young pass for 300 yards for the first time this season, but he had never passed for 250 in a game before Sunday.
In Week 16, Green Bay gave Baker Mayfield a perfect passer rating with four touchdowns in Week 15, and in Week 14, Joe Barry’s defense allowed Tommy DeVito just 367 yards and an average New York Giants. The best. Game of the season. It wasn’t just the Packers’ defense or scoring problems; Joe Barry’s decision making and play were very poor.Against the Giants, Green Bay scored on Jordan Love’s TD pass to Malik Heath with 1:33 left.
Down by one point, the Packers had to force the Giants out of field goal range. But instead of calling the media or attacking Tommy DeVito, who had less than 100 yards that night, Barry called on the defense to block him. Three short passes gave New York the ball at midcourt with 49 seconds left and two timeouts remaining. From there, DeVito completed a 32-yard pass to Wandale Robinson to put the Giants in field goal range and give New York the win.
Joe Barry’s defense was held to 10 catches for 155 yards by Baker Mayfield and Chris Godwin the following week. It was clear early on that Godwin was Mayfield’s favorite target, but Barry insisted on covering Godwin in the open. Tampa Bay always took advantage of these mismatches and Green Bay never responded. The Packers continued to miss the message against the Panthers. Joe Barry didn’t make any major mistakes, but the constant struggles of Green Bay’s defense took a toll on him right away.
This is a young department and there will always be growing pains. But the Packers have a lot of talent on defense, and the decline of that group this season is concerning. The only solution now is for the Packers to fire Joe Barry and rebuild their defense.
